A/N: Thanks for all of the support, it makes writing easier!
Chapter Ten: The Glove
By the time the elevator doors opened to Shepard's floor, the commander only had on undergarments. Garrus only adorned leggings.
The turian eagerly slapped the button to open the door to Shepard's room, while Shepard kicked their already removed clothing out of the elevator and into her quarters. Garrus backed into the room slowly, urging her to enter with a soft yet urgent tug on her arm. She put up no resistance.
The lights in her room automatically blared on as they entered, giving Garrus the opportunity to fully examine the half naked human before him. Only now did he notice their striking contrast in shape, size, color, and texture. The two had always been intimate in darkness before. He suspected Shepard did this on purpose to slowly acclimate him to her alien form, and probably vice versa.
Their differences hardly seemed to allay Shepard's desire. As her eyes drifted over his firm torso, her breath hastened and her face flushed. She wanted him.
Garrus wasted no time. He glided up to her with intention, placing his hands around her waist. With minimal effort, he nimbly lifted her light frame as he carried her towards her bed. She chuckled in response, surprised by his newfound tenacity. Slowly, he laid her down, and didn't hesitate to descend upon her. They made short work of each other's remaining clothes. Garrus even recalled the hooking mechanism of her bra and unclasped the item single-handedly. Shepard smirked in response, saying simply, "Impressive."
Garrus gave a final, teasing growl. "Just you wait, Shepard."
***
"Shit."
There was blood on the sheets. Human blood.
Garrus knew that last night had been comparably intense. He'd tried master his more aggressive impulses, like before, but when Shepard pleaded between bated breaths for him not to stop…
She wasn't a damned turian. He should have known better than to give into his primal instincts. What was he thinking?
He sat up slowly, attempting not to stir the curled form beside him. The red clock on her nightstand read 0400. Time had melted yesterday. They'd reunited sometime in the afternoon, and apparently had gone at into the evening before finally collapsing to sleep.
He sat on the bed, still for a few moments. He ought to get medical supplies to speed up her healing. Today was the final day of shore leave, after all. If Shepard had to explain to Chackwas (or worse, Mordin) why she was hobbling about the ship he'd never have the quads to enter medbay again.
He stood.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Shepard's eyes twinkled as she spoke in her smooth, teasing way, apparently unperturbed by her wounds.
"Shepard..." Garrus sat upon the bed once more. At least she didn't grimace as she arose to a seated position as well. He quickly leaned in, and desperately ran his hand across her curvy torso, searching for the physical evidence of his lust. There only appeared to be scratches on her upper body, which seemed confined to her sides and back. Luckily the cuts weren't too deep or lengthy, but they were definitely visible. Her uniform would thankfully hide them.
He stammered, shaking his head. "Shepard, I'm sorry…"
She gave a short laugh, twisting towards him. "You're apologizing? What the hell for? Galaxy-shattering sex?"
He sighed. "I went too far, and I hurt you. I should have stopped myself."
She gave a beaming grin, slowly inching her supple hand up his chest. "As I recall, you tried, but I... ah..." she coughed suggestively, "convinced you to continue. Besides, it's only a few cuts."
His glowing eyes drifted back to the sheets. There was a large blotch of crimson by her pelvic region. It wasn't just cuts.
Shepard didn't miss a beat, and climbed her hand up to his neck, caressing the area with gentle reassurance. "That problem will fix itself in time. You've got to stop being so hard on yourself. You were great." She then gave an impish grin as she leaned over to her nightstand, pulling a small gel packet out of her drawer. "Besides, if you're so concerned about my injuries, I guess you'll just have to rub this medi-gel all over me."
Only Shepard could turn medical treatment into a sensual experience. Not that he argued as he playfully snatched the packet.
"You're something else, Shepard."
***
Garrus awoke once more to the feel of moist vapor.
He darted up. He'd fallen asleep again? The clock blared 0700. He'd effectively doubled his normal sleep routine. Shepard was tiring him out.
Shepard herself emerged from the bathroom few moments later, moist from her shower but sadly fully clothed. She wasn't limping, thankfully.
"Hey there," she cooed as she shook the water from her hair.
He replied with a tender "Hey."
She then turned to her desk and tossed a datapad on his lap. He cocked his head. "What's this?"
She moved back into the bathroom, prepping herself as she chatted idly. "Reaper evidence. Any ideas on how to present this stuff without ending up grounded again?"
He gave a bemused grunt, a bit flattered that she considered him her strategic equal. Tactical collaborations in the morning and..err.. physical collaborations in the evening? Being with Shepard was looking better and better.
He skimmed over the datapad, talking casually. "We may want to bring some 'reliable' witnesses, so the council can't brush us off. Like Mordin, maybe. He was in special ops, he'd have to have some sway. And me, of course, for aesthetics and to appease your favorite turian ambassador. Maybe Thane too for his memory."
Shepard sauntered out of the bathroom, fresh and animated. "Damn Garrus. Brains and brawn? I'm a lucky girl." She beckoned him with a teasing wave of her finger. "C'mon. Those guns you ordered are ready. We'll get them delivered, then grab some food. You can tell me your reaper strategies on the way."
Garrus didn't need to be told twice. He hastily found his scattered clothing and dressed… except for his right glove. Where was it? He did a double take. Nope, it wasn't in Shepard's room.
"Huh," he remarked absently, "My glove's missing."
Shepard exposed her ivory teeth in a smile. "It's probably still in the elevator."
"Right."
Strange. The elevator wasn't waiting at their floor when they called it, but instead climbed up from the CIC. Someone had been in it. Who the hell would forsake their last day of shore leave to return bright and early to the Normandy? Was Legion out and about?
Finally, the unwieldy mechanical doors opened, revealing the elevator's innards. They stepped inside. No glove.
Shepard noticed and shook her head, amused. "Guess you'll just have to have a naked hand today, you sly devil."
"Hmph," he rumbled in response. "Try to control yourself, Shepard."
Shepard immediately took his bait, grabbing his bare hand and stroking it with her own. "I'll try my best."
The elevator door opened to the CIC. Had someone forsaken their final vacation day to return to the Normandy?
Yep, over half the crew. And, as the doors opened and revealed Shepard and Garrus hand-in-hand, a slew of crewmembers saw them. For once, Garrus wished that Shepard didn't inspire such loyalty.
For one of the crew probably had his glove.
Shepard smiled. "So much for us being subtle."